Starting chemo February 2020
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IVY09, thank you for this!! I have been struggling and scared out of my mind! The stories are frightening, I am hoping I can tolerate this regimen!! I heard about one woman who starting screaming because she was so hot during treatment. I know everyone is different but hearing all this can be so overwhelming
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Good news for me, I get my covid vaccine on Monday! MN governor allocated 15,000 shots to school staff/daycare providers in the Twin Cities area. My district got 438 spots (we’ve got well over 1,000 employees- 600 of them teachers), so since I am teaching in person, with vulnerable students, and have a health condition, I get a vaccine. Yay! Not all my coworkers are thrilled and are a little more apprehensive about getting the vaccine, but after what I’ve put in my body and put it through last year I figure this can’t do much more damage...right?!
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AB45 you are welcome! Overwhelming is an understatement, but you will get through this! This is a great place to get real answers to your questions.
I don't post much, but there is a wealth of knowledge and experience on here that helped me through.
I purchased a personal sized fan that goes with me everywhere as I was thrown into chemo-induced menopause. Best $10 investment I've made.
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Ivy09 - yes! I've wanted a mini fan myself so many times.
ajminn - yep, not like the vaccine is gonna make your hair fall out or anything!
I just signed up for a vaccine notification from the pharmacy indicating that I belong in the next phase which will include persons under 65 with chronic health conditions. I'm sorta torn about this... I'm almost done with treatment and don't really have a weakened immune system... so do I really belong in that category? My health records do list "cancer" as an active condition... but it's not like I have mets.... so - do I now wait and get it when regular healthy people my age are eligible or do I "grab the opportunity" if it is presented to me as one advantage to this whole mess?
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micdpowers - thanks for the perspective. I’m not quite overweight, but definitely have a belly so no tight shorts or many dresses for me. I’m still on the fence what to do, but I have time, reconstruction not until summer. It’s so hard to know what to do
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Fab4mom, I had a tt in 2017 and would do it again in a heartbeat lol
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For those that had radiation, when did you start seeing signs on your skin and what were they?
Today I'm going in for #6 of 28. Every time I'm in there I'm freaking out thinking today is the day it will be painful lol
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i had 25 Sessions and it was a good 15+ sessions in before I got more than pink. I don't think it ever really hurt, maybe a bit uncomfortable. I've definitely had worse sunburn, just keep putting the Aloe on
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Okay, good to know. I'm putting the cream they told me to buy after each treatment before I get dressed.
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My place gave me Aloe, they told me to apply it 3-4 times per day
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Hi All
Starting Ac/Taxol on 2/10, would love to connect with all of you during this chemo journey
Thanks
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Good to know morrigan
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Scattered- it was about 3 weeks in that I started getting pink. From there my skin did get quite irritated and started hurting. I ended up with some peeling and blisters that lasted a few weeks after I ended radiation. I was given Radiaplex lotion to put on from the start and then Metipil patches to put over more sensitive spots later on.
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That's what I'm scared of.
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I’ll be honest, radiation was worse for me than I had anticipated. I still have some side effects from it months out (tight skin, some soreness). However, I will say most people I know that had rads didn’t have it so bad or as many side effects beyond some redness and minor irritation!
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Okay. I hope it is easy for me.
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my skin peeled but, I didn't have any blisters and my "tan" has mostly faded. If I stare long enough I can see that the radiated boob is very slightly darker than the other boob.
Everyone reacts to treatment differently. Try not to worry about it.
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I'll try lol
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AB45 - I did DD AC & T - started about a year ago. I did not work during chemo though I probably could have, though reduced hours. I tolerated the A/C fairly well. Ginger ale was my friend. I took Claritin every day and did not have the bone paid from neulesta. I would be tired day 3 and 4 and my stomach was very particular about what 'sounded' good to eat. I walked everyday. I shaved by head on day 12 of the first A/C as my doctor told me that icing wouldn't help keep my hair. it is now thick with some curl - its pixie cut length. I got a wig and a halo but ended up only wearing the halo 2 times and never wore the wig. The pandemic and needing to stay at home eliminated my desire to deal with the hassle of the wig. Wearing a cap just was more comfortable. I did have a challenge with the T, though I was able to maintain the DD. Day 6 & 7 were days that I felt depressed - and very tired/uninterested in things. Luckily this only lasted 2 days and I learned not to expect anything of myself. I am now on Tamoxifen, I have been back at work full time (remote) since June and am addicted to my peloton. I went for my check ups over the last couple of weeks and was thrilled to realized I had forgotten the floor for my plastic surgeon - progress!! Chemo is scary because we are all told that it is different for everyone and that is true - the unknown is scary but you can do this - one day at a time.
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MADDIE 83F, Thank you! So scared but I appreciate your reply, wishing the best for you
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AB45 - if you haven't already, you should join the thread for the month you start Chemo. Having this group and going through Chemo together really helped.
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Hi all, good day today...got my first covid vaccine and my peloton arrived (delayed a month)! Other than that I just keep trucking along taking my OS/AI. New year means restart on the medical deductible...yay. I’ll max out quick again. My hair is in a super awkward stage. I’m back in winter hats until it grows a little more...I just don’t want to cut it and there’s no styling that looks decent right now. I don’t have a great head or face shape for headbands unfortunately! Hope everyone is well!
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ajminn - that’s great that you got the vaccine. I’m so happy for you! Our school district got super lucky and Walgreens offered them a vaccine clinic last weekend, so all the teachers, staff, support, etc got their first shot. Also my parents finally got their first shot. Being 1C means probably April at the earliest for me, maybe even May or June. It’s hard to wait and IL is going very slow. My kids start back two days a week next week. Covid cases have dropped so much around here.
My hair is also crazy most of the time and akward. I was happy the other say because I realized it was long enough to part and when I use gel, it’s not too crazy. My kids said it’s like a boy, but better than the crazy sticking straight up look.
Going for Kadcyla #7 tomorrow. Trying acupuncture on Friday, found out it’s covered by insurance, and my oncologist is fine with it. Might as well see if it helps with my muscle aches and neuropathy.
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ajminn3 I love my peloton! Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine - pushing myself physically makes me feel less farther and farther away from being a chemo patient. My hair has just enough wave to stand up straight - I have learned to apply enough product to part and comb into a pixie - but always seem to wake up with a curly mess. I hear you on the medical deductible - I have to pay full price on anti-depressant and tamoxifen until I reach my out of pocket max....
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Oh, I'm jealous... I want a peloton. I feel so fat since the end of my active treatment!
I had the pfizer vaccine on Sunday and I will go back in 3 weeks. I haven't had any side effects other than sore arm.
scattered, I didn't feel anything different with my skin until the last week of treatment and then it went down hill fast! I felt like all the skin under my arm was raw hamburger meat that was singed. I was given prescription ointment and some myplex strips to keep skin dry. I would say the week right after the treatment ended was the worst and then my skin started to heal.
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ajminn and Mandy - my peloton name is also Fab4mom, so feel free to add me to your friends. I love love love it. I also highly recommend the restorative yoga for relaxation and stretch. It is not a workout, but so good in my opinion.
Scattered - my skin held up and also turned like a dark red/purple near the end. I was more surprised at how much stretching I need to continue after radiation, the skin just keeps getting tighter. My muscles and everything on that side bother me.
Dysonsphere - so great you got the vaccine.
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Heres my current hair. If I use gel and put a part in it, it’s pretty calm. If I don’t, or I wear a hat, it’s insane and sticks straight up. It’s definitely a little masculine for my taste, but better than out of control craz
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Fab4mom- I love the peloton! I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I think I found you on there! It feels good to workout and push my body. Your hair is looking good. Mine is so unruly. I’m hoping by the end of winter hat season it’s more manageable.
Dyson- yay for getting the vaccine! I’ve easily gained 10+ lbs post treatment. I’m trying to be nice to myself about it after what my body has been through the last year but it’s so hard!
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Fab4mom - my hair is very similar to yours - I can calm it down with some hair product that I got, and part it to look like a pixie cut but..... if I do nothing it stands straight up. Thank you for the restorative yoga suggestion - I will try it out.
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Thank you. I had rads #11 of 28 yesterday. Skin still looks good. I hope it never goes bad.
I'm jealous of all you with Pelotons, we don't have the space lol
Reg. the vaccine, I'm not getting it. We are a vaccine free family and if we start we for sure won't start with one this new lol
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